Astros report: Uncertainty dogs Norris, Veras on road trip

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And while the highly tradeable pitchers understand their careers are one phone call away from immediately changing, they entered a 10-game, 11-day trip that bridges a Wednesday non-waiver trade deadline by focusing on the present and mentally preparing for what may soon be a new role in a new home city.

Norris has maintained a low profile during recent weeks while publicly acknowledging his five-season run in an Astros uniform could soon be complete.

He threw an emotional 61⁄3 innings Wednesday in a no-decision against Oakland at Minute Maid Park. Whether the Astros’ No. 1 starter makes his next scheduled appearance Tuesday at Baltimore or is still with the club Aug. 1 during a series finale against the Orioles is out of his hands after six months of waiting and wondering.

“It’s not just me. There’s 24 other guys in the clubhouse, and it could be anybody. It could be anybody at any time,” Norris said prior to the Astros’ 4-0 Thursday loss to the Blue Jays at Toronto. “The guys have been really supportive through all of it, and they understand it, and I’m very appreciative of it.”

Norris is the Astros’ most movable asset, potentially giving a contending club a middle-of-the-rotation starter with two more years of team control. His name has recently been attached to Veras’, with the duo possibly giving a team an improving starter and a sturdy closer or eighth-inning reliever in one deal.

Veras received a season-changing call with the New York Yankees in 2009, when he suddenly became a Cleveland Indian. Five days before this year’s deadline, he wants to stick with the Astros and is beginning to feel like Houston is home. He also knows baseball becomes more of a business each passing year.

“I would like to be

here all the days to the last day of my career,” said Veras, who has 18 saves and a 3.05 ERA in 41 games.

Villar, Cosart hit the big time

While Bud Norris and Jose Veras waited for their future, rookies Jonathan Villar and Jarred Cosart quickly adjusted to life as major leaguers on a long trip.

Cosart’s locker was placed next to Norris’, while Villar joked pregame with fellow Dominican Republic natives Jose Cisnero and Veras.

Villar, 22, spent six seasons in the minor leagues. This marks his first road trip in the big leagues — and his first journey into the Great White North with one of a major league player’s biggest perks.

“No roommate,” Villar said with a smile.

Bringing order to the lineup

The Astros entered Thursday having used 86 different batting orders in 100 games. But the addition of Jonathan Villar is finally giving manager Bo Porter a few names he can write in with a pen instead of a pencil.

With Villar hitting leadoff and second baseman Jose Altuve in the two hole, catcher Jason Castro hit third Thursday. Add in speedy outfielder Brandon Barnes in the nine spot, giving the Astros three potential base stealers when the order loops around, and a club known for inconsistency now has four players who could become locked in the order during this trip.

“It makes it easy when writing the lineup of knowing those three guys are going to pretty much be in the lineup every day, unless you choose to give them a day off,” Porter said.